Invalidating Salah: Key Principles and Corrections

15-Minute Teaching Script — What Invalidates the Salah & How to Correct Mistakes (Sujood as-Sahw)

0–2 min Opening

Teacher (read): Today we will learn the most important things that can break the Salah, how to correct common mistakes, and when to perform Sujood as-Sahw. We will follow the Prophet ﷺ exactly, upon the understanding of the Salaf.

[Ask] What does it practically mean to guard the Salah? (Elicit: purity, presence, pillars, tranquility.)

2–5 min Anchor Proofs

Teacher (read): These narrations show that the Salah has pillars and calmness. If we lose what is essential, the prayer is not sound; if we forget, the Sunnah teaches how to fix it mercifully.

5–11 min What Invalidates the Salah

• Loss of wudu. If you are sure purity is lost, the Salah breaks. If you only doubt passing wind, do not leave until certain.
  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Summary: Doubt alone is not enough; certainty is required.
  [Ask] What should you do if you think you felt something but are not sure?
• Intentional speech of ordinary talk.
  Narrated by Muawiyah ibn al-Hakam al-Sulami; reported in Sahih Muslim. Summary: Ordinary speech is not part of Salah; the Prophet ﷺ taught gently when the man spoke ignorantly.
  [Explain] If spoken deliberately, the prayer is invalid; if forgetful or ignorant, the person is taught and the mistake is excused.
• Eating or drinking deliberately.
  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (man who prayed poorly, establishing decorum and pillars); reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Eating or drinking opposes the humility and form of Salah.
  [Note] Deliberate eating or drinking requires repeating the prayer.
• Excessive unnecessary movement.
  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (same incident); reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Tranquility (tumaninah) is required; repeated non-need actions oppose it.
  [Demonstrate] Show stillness between pillars; define “excessive” practically for students.
• Deliberately omitting a pillar (rukn).
  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Missing pillars knowingly invalidates; the man had to repeat due to missing essentials.
  [Explain] If forgotten: return to it when remembered, continue, and perform Sujood as-Sahw.
• Adding a pillar by mistake (extra ruku or rakah).
  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Dhul-Yadayn incident); reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: The Prophet ﷺ completed and made two prostrations of forgetfulness.
  [Note] Mistaken additions are corrected with Sujood as-Sahw (timing explained below).
• Loud laughter.
  Salaf understanding: It contradicts the solemnity of Salah and invalidates it. Teach reverence and self-control.

11–13 min Sujood as-Sahw: How & When

• Omission of a wajib (for example, first tashahhud): Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim.
  Narrated by Abdullah ibn Buhaynah; reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: The Prophet ﷺ forgot the first tashahhud and made the two prostrations before Taslim.
• Addition (for example, extra rakah) or completion after sitting: Sujood as-Sahw often after Taslim in the completion case.
  Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (Dhul-Yadayn incident); reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: He ﷺ completed the prayer then made two prostrations.
• Doubt in the number: Build on certainty, then Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim.
  Narrated by Abu Said al-Khudri; reported in Sahih Muslim. Summary: Act on what you are sure of, then make two prostrations.

13–15 min Practice & Closing

• Scenario A: You forgot the first tashahhud and stood fully. [Ask] Do you sit back or continue? (Answer: continue; Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim — Hadith of Ibn Buhaynah.)
• Scenario B: You doubted three or four. [Ask] What do you do? (Answer: build on certainty — three — then Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim — Hadith of Abu Said.)
• Scenario C: The imam prayed an extra rakah. [Ask] How to correct? (Answer: complete properly and perform Sujood as-Sahw — Dhul-Yadayn incident.)

Teacher (closing): We guard our Salah by keeping purity, presence, pillars, and tranquility. If we forget, the Sunnah teaches us mercy and correction. “Pray as you have seen me praying.” (Malik ibn al-Huwayrith – Bukhari)

Quick Reference — Hadith Summaries with Narrators & Sources

• Pray as you have seen me praying — Narrated by Malik ibn al-Huwayrith; reported in Sahih al-Bukhari. Summary: Follow the Prophet’s ﷺ exact prayer.
• The man who prayed poorly — Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Repeat if essentials are missing; tranquility is required.
• Speech not allowed in prayer — Narrated by Muawiyah ibn al-Hakam al-Sulami; reported in Sahih Muslim. Summary: Ordinary talk invalidates if deliberate; ignorance is taught gently.
• Doubt in number — build on certainty — Narrated by Abu Said al-Khudri; reported in Sahih Muslim. Summary: Act on what is certain, then two prostrations.
• Forgetting first tashahhud — Narrated by Abdullah ibn Buhaynah; reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Sujood as-Sahw before Taslim.
• Dhul-Yadayn incident (addition/completion) — Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Completed prayer, then two prostrations.
• Doubt about passing wind — Narrated by Abu Hurayrah; reported in Bukhari & Muslim. Summary: Do not leave on doubt alone; require certainty.